On Illinois’ first day of basketball practice in late September, freshman guard Mark Smith spoke about following in the footsteps of fellow Edwardsville native Mannie Jackson and Smith’s hopes of helping to rebuild the Illini program.

Coach Brad Underwood called Smith the most improved player he had worked with and raved about Smith’s potential and versatility. He compared Smith to Jason Kidd.

Those big dreams didn’t work out at Illinois.

Smith, the state’s Mr. Basketball winner in 2017, confirmed to the Tribune on Monday he has decided to transfer. The school later announced the departure in a news release.

“I just don’t fit the system,” Smith told The Telegraph of Alton, Ill.

Something was certainly amiss this season.

The 6-foot-4 Smith’s freshman season was defined by its lack of productivity. He averaged only 5.8 points on 33.7 percent shooting, including a meager 23.2 percent on 3-pointers. His scoring average dipped to 3.1 points in Big Ten play.

Translation: He was a typical freshman, not the phenom many Illini fans expected.

While Smith’s numbers were disappointing, his departure is still a blow to a rebuilding team that needs every brick. It’s also an eyebrow-raiser when it comes to Underwood, who recruited Smith and was expected to develop him within the coach’s system.

Guard Trent Frazier (12.5 points per game) had an impressive freshman season and it’s reasonable for Illini fans to dream about the dynamic potential he and incoming Morgan Park star Ayo Dosunmu could have together in the backcourt. But that’s no panacea for the Illini, who ended Underwood’s first season with a 14-18 record and first-round exit from the Big Ten tournament.

Underwood has picked up two Class of 2018 commitments from 45 offers, according to Illini Inquirer. Illinois’ deficiencies are obvious: scorers, athleticism, post play. While Illini players responded to Underwood’s intensity and grasped the defensive toughness he demands, the gap between Illinois’ talent and that of other Big Ten teams was too often glaring.

Fans ask me if Underwood can turn around Illinois. His coaching style will win some games, but whether he can fully resuscitate the program will come down to recruiting.

Expect Illinois to add some transfers this offseason. It’s an important one for Underwood and his staff to find players who fit his system and will stay put in Champaign.

According to The Telegraph, the university will release Smith from his scholarship in the next few days. He told the paper athletic director Josh Whitman would not block his transfer to any other program.

“We thank Mark for the effort and contributions he made to our team this year,” Underwood said in a news release. “We wish him nothing but the best as he continues to pursue his dreams.”

Some fans have speculated whether Smith could wind up at Missouri, where he committed to play baseball before his emergence as a basketball prospect. It’s where Jeremiah Tilmon decided to play after decommitting from Illinois when former coach John Groce was fired.

For Illinois, the focus now must be on who is coming in rather than who is leaving.